Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) introduced its S2G chassis at  the 2012 NTEA Work Truck Show this week. It’s said to be powered by the industry’s only factory-installed liquid propane gas (LPG) engine available to the medium-duty truck market.

Built on FCCC’s S2 chassis, the S2G’s 8-litre, 325-hp engine supplied by Powertrain Integration offers LPG technology on a proven platform known for its design flexibility. The engine uses General Motors’ long block and other components as its core.

The benefits of an LPG chassis, says FCCC, include lower operational costs and reduced emissions without sacrificing payload capability or performance. The S2G chassis is suitable for pickup and delivery, student transportation and municipal applications.

The S2G was developed in response to "significant" industry interest for an LPG solution without retrofitting or aftermarket additions, the company says.

FCCC has more than a decade of experience designing and building factory-installed natural gas (CNG) and LPG-fueled chassis for its commercial bus products.

Fleet managers and body manufacturers were consulted in the design process to assess their specific needs, from GVW ratings and component placement to in-cab layout and electrical interfaces.

Like its diesel counterpart, the front-engine S2G uses the Freightliner M2 cab, which features a sloped, forward-tilting hood for easy engine access. It has a GVWR of 33,000 lb and comes equipped with an Allison 2300 automatic transmission with PTO provision.

With the support of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), FCCC partnered with Powertrain Integration and CleanFuel USA in the development of the S2G. The mission of PERC, established in 1996 by the U. S. Congress, is to promote the safe and efficient use of odourized propane gas.

A limited pre-production run of S2G chassis is expected in the fourth quarter of 2012, with full production slated for the first quarter of 2013.